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'Real tough for the family' Underwood's cut to neck self-inflicted, police say
Posted: Monday September 27, 1999 10:58 PM
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Dimitrius Underwood, who walked away from a multimillion-dollar NFL contract only to return to football to support his family, slashed his own neck before being found bleeding on a Lansing street, police said Monday. Police found the Miami Dolphins and former Michigan State player near downtown Lansing Sunday afternoon after getting calls that a man was yelling for help. He was covered with blood but able to talk. "He was somewhat despondent," police spokesman Lt. Ray Hall said. "He was upset, physically upset." Underwood's life has seen a series of twists lately. He was the Minnesota Vikings' second first-round draft pick in April, but left training camp after one day, saying he could not resolve the conflict between playing football and serving God. He gave football another chance in August when the Miami Dolphins claimed him on waivers, but attended only two practices before injuring himself in a preseason game. He had been expected to begin practicing again with the Dolphins this week. On Saturday, Lansing police arrested Underwood on a warrant accusing him of nonpayment of child support. A $500 bond was posted for him about three hours later, but Underwood refused to leave the jail for another hour, spending the time talking to another inmate, Hall said. "I think Dimitrius' behavior over a little bit of time here has been a little bit unusual," Michigan State coach Nick Saban said at his weekly news conference Monday. "We tried to help the guy last year; I know the Dolphins have tried to help him now, and I've talked to him on several occasions. ... Maybe now someone can help him and he can do well."
Hall said Underwood slashed his neck with a knife at the home of the mother of his twin 17-month-old children, where he was staying. No one in the home saw him cut himself, but several people in the neighborhood saw him running down the street afterward. Hall said physical evidence at the scene and witnesses' statements convinced police Underwood used the knife on himself. The officer would not describe the knife, other than to say it was a common household knife. He declined to say if Underwood had written a suicide note. Underwood was listed in fair condition Monday at Sparrow Hospital after undergoing surgery Sunday. No further information was released at the request of his family. "They're going through a real rough time, like any family would at a time like this," Hall said. The 22-year-old player cooperated with police when they found him about 12:45 p.m. Sunday and has spoken with police since, Hall said. He declined to say if Underwood gave them a reason for his actions, but said police are close to completing their investigation. "Our attention is turned toward safeguarding his good mental health," Hall said. Underwood's agent, Craig Domann, could not be reached Monday for comment. His mother, Eileen Underwood of Philadelphia, was in Lansing with her son and unavailable. In addition to Saturday's arrest on the child support warrant, Underwood was arrested on Aug. 17, when was briefly held in East Lansing on a warrant accusing him of failing to pay a $150 parking ticket. He paid the fine and was released from jail. Underwood played defensive end at Michigan State for three seasons before sitting out his senior year with a sprained ankle. The Minnesota Vikings made him their 29th draft pick overall. He signed a five-year, $5.3 million contract Aug. 1 but walked out of training camp the next day. Underwood told coach Dennis Green he had no desire to play football. The Vikings released him Aug. 11. Underwood sacrificed a $1.75 million signing bonus by leaving. He was claimed on waivers by Miami after 23 other teams passed on him and is now getting a base salary of $395,000 in the first season of a five-year contract with Miami. Underwood dislocated his left shoulder during the Dolphins' preseason. The Dolphins did not play Sunday. On Monday, Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson said he had spoken with Sparrow Hospital nurses about Underwood's condition. "[I] have passed on the word that we are 100 percent supportive of him. Our No. 1 concern is his health and well-being, and the No. 1 thing we want to do is for him to get well," Johnson said during a Miami news conference. The Dolphins did not practice Monday, and players were unavailable for comment. "He's a good person and a good guy and he's going through some hard times right now," Saban said.
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